Rush hour on Air Force one as Melania director Brett Ratner joins Trump China trip

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- Brett Ratner is traveling with Donald Trump on Air Force One to China for a summit with Xi Jinping, where he plans to scout locations for Rush Hour 4.
- Donald Trump will meet Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday to discuss economic and geopolitical issues, including Iran and Taiwan, while accompanied by CEOs Tim Cook, Elon Musk, and Larry Fink.
- Trump’s spokesperson Victoria Palmer‑Moore announced that Ratner intends to shoot “a lot” of Rush Hour 4 in China during the trip.
- Larry Ellison was urged by Trump in November to revive the Rush Hour franchise via Paramount Skydance, though the deal remains unconfirmed amid Hollywood opposition.
- Brett Ratner released a 2026 Amazon‑backed documentary “Melania” that underperformed at the box office, marking his first film direction in over a decade.
Why it matters: Trump’s China summit gives top US tech and finance CEOs a rare diplomatic platform, while Ratner’s on‑site scouting could revive the dormant Rush Hour franchise, boosting Hollywood‑China co‑production prospects.



